Singburi

Time Out says

4 out of 5 stars

A veteran Thai café in Leytonstone.

We all love being in on a secret, like those neighbourhood restaurants that look unassuming from the outside, but inside dish up city-class food. The thing is, secrets can be hard to keep – especially those that have had a couple of decades to spread. That’s why Singburi, a tiny family-run Thai café on a nondescript stretch of Leytonstone High Road, is constantly packed to the rafters with a discipleship of canny locals.

The BYO policy is definitely central to its appeal. The shop-bought wine and beer that litters Singburi’s tabletops give the place a boozy buzz. Dishes are staunchly trad and served with little ceremony from the tiny kitchen. You’ll find many gems among its starters: fish cakes lifted by the clean taste of holy basil; fiery grilled pork ‘sai ua’ sausage that comes with a hideous-looking (but actually delicious) chunky sauce.

Staples like pad thai and massaman are fantastic, but I suggest taking a look at the chalked-up specials board. A dish of squid practically melted into its tangy dressing; the sauce of a soft-shell crab curry, rich and silky like a South East Asian lobster bisque, had us lapping gracelessly from the bowl once we’d finished cracking and prising.

But Singburi’s charm isn’t so much the food as its refusal to acknowledge its own excellence. Prices are fair; service matter-of-fact. The only problems, really, are its rampant popularity and what you might politely call the management’s laidback attitude to opening times. (It took three phone calls to book a table; when I did, it was followed by a terse ‘Don’t forget, yeah?’) Believe me when I say it’s worth the hassle. Just as we paid the bill, a man – clearly a regular – got up, put his arm around co-owner Thelma, and instructed us all to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to her. An entire restaurant of half-cut, fanatical patrons obliged.

My husband and I have been going to this great Thai Cafe since we were in our early 20s. We love the food and Thelma is a star. We have never had any problems with her and have always had a feeling of visiting an aunt's house when we eat there. I have introduced many friends who didn't even know the Cafe existed and who now love it as much as we do! Well worth a visit.

Another awesome find since moving to Leyton. From the outside it doesn't look like much and to be honest on the inside it isn't much to look at either, with faiiiirly old paint and loos at the end of a corridor full of women washing dishes but my god is the food amazing. The starters were good but the mains are really something else, full of flavours and great meat. My favourite was the pad thai and the short rib curry. It is BYOB so the alcohol selection is never an issue. Bizarrely they seat everyone at 7 and then again at 9 so when we arrived just before 9 I thought the owner on the phone was pulling my leg that it was nearly fully booked. By 9 O'clock the place was packed. Food comes when it comes and the service is was it is but the food and ambience make up for it.

My favourite thai restaurant in London! If you don't mind the slightly surly service and a slightly run down cafe interior then give this place a go - the food is so delicious and reasonably priced. My favourite dishes are the beef with chilli and holy basil and the seafood red curry. Also it's bring your own booze - winner!

long standing family run Thai establishment serving quality authentic food - Moo Krab is the best, All great value and its BYO - Phone to book a table on a Friday and Saturday to avoid being turned away

This is such a hidden gem and almost too good to share as it can be a struggle to get a table. The food is excellent, with a changing seasonal menu and such delicious flavour sensations. I think one of the best Thai restaurants in the capital! and its BYO which means you can afford to sample even more dishes! Monette and Thelma always look after us...

Great local restaurant run by genuinely lovely people. The food is as authentic as you will taste outside of Thailand. Don't be put off by the basic interior...just turn up with your own booze and an empty stomach.

It's not just the food that's delicious, it's the amazing family who are dedicated to this place. They have been doing it for years and we can't stop visiting them. When I can't go to mums for the weekend, I'm here.

Toiling away on Leytonstone High Road for at least the 10 years I've lived in the area. Here long before most of the others on the list. Most importantly, the best Thai food I've even had outside Thailand. Bargain prices and friendly service.

You really can't fault this place. As soon as you step inside, there's a feeling of homeliness, reflected in a satisfyingly small menu of astonishingly taste food. (The fish dishes that appear on the specials menu should not be passed over; the tilapia I had was phenomenal.) The staff are cheeky and good-humoured; and in a quirky touch, you have to go through the kitchen to get to the toilets. Which is incentive for them to keep it clean and hygienic, I guess. The crowd in there are loyal regulars; whilst there are no other Thai places in the area, I don't think it's this but the quality of the food that brings them back.

This place is my favourite Thai in East London (and I've lived all over). Every time me and my friends decide to meet up Singburi is the first place suggested. The food is absolutely delicious and the staff very accommodating (not sure what the Safia woman is moaning about as we've never had anything but a lovely time). Can't recommend enough.

We were regulars at this lovely little family run BYO Thai. I've been going here for years and have introduced so many people to this place. The only issue I have is Thelma (the mother) and her mood swings. We mostly laugh it off but this time she was out of order. We simply asked for vegetables to be put in the veg pad Thai (there were none) - talk about the end of the world. Instead of 'is everything OK?', 'did we get it wrong' just anything in a polite and smiley manner - she came charging out of the kitchen, visibly angry and started questioning us. I ended up explaining 3 times 'just vegetables please' because she was so busy being angry and telling us off like we are little children. It just didn't occur to her that the waiter may have made a mistake by excluding the veg. He also got one of the main dishes wrong - we ordered green chicken curry but we got some kind of beef stir fry instead - we were too scared to say something by then.
We remained polite until the end of our meal, she stayed annoyed with us, ignored us the rest of the night and didn't look in our direction or thank us for our payment. For the first time we didn't leave any tip and will probably never return - not that she cares because she is just so hard-faced. What a real shame she is the way she is. A truly unhappy experience from the most unhappiest woman I've ever come across.